The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office reported that a sergeant first used a Taser on the suspect before discharging his firearm multiple times.
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — On Tuesday night, a man suspected of stealing a vehicle for the second time in two weeks was fatally shot by two Jacksonville sheriff’s officers during a pursuit on foot, as per the sheriff’s office.
The confrontation occurred on Kaleel Road.
At approximately 11:15 p.m., Patrol Task Force officers, traveling in unmarked cars, identified the suspect, 52-year-old Michael Wayne Jones, inside a “recognizably stolen vehicle” near 61st Street and Main Street.
Two weeks earlier, JSO stated that Jones had been spotted in the same stolen car. During that encounter, he managed to escape, and officers confirmed that he was armed with a firearm at the time.
After discovering Jones in the stolen car again on Tuesday, undercover units requested backup from marked patrol vehicles to monitor him. The officers trailed him to Kaleel Road, where Jones reportedly turned off the vehicle’s lights before pulling into a driveway.
He then exited the vehicle and ran away from the car, JSO said. As officers chased after him, Sergeant M. Howell reportedly deployed his Taser twice at Jones. JSO said it is unknown at this time if the probes made contact with him.
JSO Undersheriff Shawn Coarsey said officers chased Jones “around a couple of houses, over some fences and through some backyards.”
After the Taser was deployed, JSO said Jones pulled out a handgun, prompting Sergeant M. Howell and Officer. M. Higginbotham to fire multiple shots at him.
According to JSO, Jones died at the scene.
This marks as the 4th officer-involved-shooting in 2026 for JSO. Once the State Attorney’s Office completes its investigation, JSO will conduct its own.
